ESPE Yearbook of Paediatric Endocrinology

To read the full abstract: Sci. Signal. 2018;11:eaap9415Women are more frequently affected by autoimmune disorders than men. A role for estrogen was suggested by the observation that the development of inflammatory bowel disease was associated with oral contraceptive use. Women also respond to infection and vaccination with higher antibody production and a T helper 2 (TH2) cell&#8211...

Brief summary: In this experimental study, a transdermal polymeric microneedle (MN) patch for glucose-responsive closed-loop insulin and glucagon delivery was developed. In chemically-induced type 1 diabetes (T1D) mouse and minipig models, this glucose-responsive dual-hormone MN patch demonstrated tight regulation in blood glucose.The interplay between insulin and glucagon is essential for blood glucose regulation in individuals with or without diabetes....

Brief summary: This phase 3 double-blind, parallel-group, randomized, placebo-controlled trial over 68 weeks randomised (2:1) 201 adolescents with obesity to receive semaglutide 2.4 mg once weekly or placebo. Both groups also received lifestyle intervention. The primary endpoint was the percentage change in BMI. Treatment with semaglutide produced clinically relevant reductions in BMI and body weight, and improvements in cardiovascular risk factors, which were all significantl...

Brief summary: This randomized, double-blind, phase 3 trial of youths with inadequately controlled T2D, dulaglutide treatment was superior to placebo in reducing the glycated hemoglobin level at 26 weeks.Comment: T2D in children and adolescents is an aggressive disease with early onset of complications, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. After three decades with no efficient treatment, there is finally light at the end of the tunnel.<p c...

Brief summary: This study examined glycemic control following treatment with once-weekly exenatide 2 mg (Bydureon, AstraZeneca) in youth with T2D which was not optimally controlled. At 24 weeks, exenatide was superior to placebo in lowering HbA1c (least squares mean change, −0.36% with exenatide vs. +0.49% with placebo), with a between-group difference of −0.85%.Comment: The story of the development of exenatide is fascinating. It starts with...

Brief Summary: This study compared the histology and growth phenotypes, epigenotypes and gene expression profiles of mouse embryos, embryonic livers, and placental tissue at differing gestational ages after exposure to IVF. They followed the growth and metabolic profiles (glucose, insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL/VLDL) of offspring to age 12 weeks. Groups analysed by sex included those conceived naturally, by IVF, by IVF with TEBx (trophectoderm biopsy) and ...

Brief Summary: This translational study identifies a new susceptibility region within the estrogen receptor α ( ESR1 ) gene, linked to cryptorchidism (CO) and hypospadias (HS), the most common birth defects of the male genital tract. CO occurs in approximately 1:100 male births and is 3-times more common in premature infants, while HS affects about 1:300 male births. The prevalence of both conditions has increased over the years, with premature infants showing hi...

Brief Summary: This article presents the joint European Society of Endocrinology and Endocrine Society clinical guideline on the diagnosis and treatment of Glucocorticoid (GC)-induced adrenal insufficiencyComment: The prevalence of oral glucocorticoid (GC) use is ~1% in adults (1). The risk for glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency is evident. These guidelines provide both endocrinologists and general practitioners with guidance to manage such pat...

Brief Summary: This retrospective study assessed the outcome of thyroid ultrasound (US) surveillance in childhood cancer survivors (CCS) exposed to radiotherapy (RT). 306 CCS were monitored with thyroid US. Patients received TBI (45%) and/or RT to craniospinal (44%), chest (11%), and neck regions (6%). Thyroid US surveillance was started at a median interval of 9.1 years after RT; 150 patients (49%) had thyroid nodule(s); 44 patients underwent surgery, and 28 had a final diagn...

Brief Summary:This study in mice shows that insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2), encoded by an imprinted gene and expressed by placental endocrine cells, is essential for the adaptive changes in maternal glucose and lipid metabolism during pregnancy to promote fetal growth. Failure of this adaptive program during pregnancy also resulted in metabolic dysfunction of offspring mice later in their life.IGF2 has been longer known to be involved in the regulat...